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Keurig Dr Pepper Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 24 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Full-year net sales grew 8.6% constant currency: Net sales were $16.6 billion, up 8.2% reported and 8.6% constant currency. Volume/mix rose 4.8% and net price realization added 3.8%; GHOST contributed 3.8 points to volume/mix. Source
  • Adjusted diluted EPS rose 7.3%: Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.05, up 7.3%, on adjusted net income of $2.8 billion, up 6.6%. Reported diluted EPS was $1.53. Source
  • Q4 adjusted EPS up 1.7%: Adjusted diluted EPS rose 1.7% to $0.60. Adjusted operating income growth was partly offset by a slightly higher tax rate and higher interest expense. Source
  • Share gains in soft drinks, energy, hydration: Management attributed segment growth to market share gains in carbonated soft drinks, energy, and sports hydration. Source
  • U.S. Coffee sales flat on price, volume down: Segment sales were $4.0 billion, up 0.6%. Net price realization of 4.8% was partly offset by a volume/mix decline of 4.2%, with K-Cup pod sales up and brewer sales down. Source
  • GHOST termination payments cut cash flow: Operating and free cash flow absorbed $225 million of one-time distribution termination payments tied to the GHOST acquisition. Source
  • 2026 guidance presented on non-GAAP basis: The 2026 guidance is presented on a constant currency, non-GAAP basis, as the company's forward-looking figures are not reconciled to GAAP. Source

“navigated the dynamic operating environment with agility, and executed well in the marketplace with winning innovation and robust commercial activation of our brands”

CEO Tim Cofer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales Source2026 full year$25.9-$26.4 billionNew
Adjusted diluted EPS growth Source2026 full yearlow-double-digit range, constant currencyNew
Standalone net sales growth Source2026 full year4-6% constant currencyNew
Standalone Adjusted diluted EPS growth Source2026 full year4-6% constant currencyNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: 2026 guidance for net sales and adjusted diluted EPS growth is given in this release; the prior release gave only 2025 guidance. Source
  • New: Board Chair role passes from Bob Gamgort to Pamela Patsley at the end of the first quarter of 2026. Source

Full-year results and growth drivers

  • Full-year net sales grew 8.6% constant currency: Net sales were $16.6 billion, up 8.2% reported and 8.6% constant currency. Volume/mix rose 4.8% and net price realization added 3.8%; GHOST contributed 3.8 points to volume/mix. Source
  • Adjusted diluted EPS rose 7.3%: Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.05, up 7.3%, on adjusted net income of $2.8 billion, up 6.6%. Reported diluted EPS was $1.53. Source
  • Adjusted operating income rose 4.9%: Adjusted operating income rose 4.9% to $4.2 billion, or 25.0% of net sales. GAAP operating income rose 38.0% to $3.6 billion, including a favorable year-over-year impact of items affecting comparability. Source
  • GAAP net income rose on comparability items: GAAP net income rose 44.3% to $2.1 billion, or $1.53 per diluted share, helped by a favorable year-over-year impact from items affecting comparability. Source

Fourth-quarter consolidated results

  • Fourth-quarter net sales up 9.9% constant currency: Net sales rose 10.5% to $4.5 billion, or 9.9% constant currency, on net price realization of 6.0% and volume/mix growth of 3.9%. GHOST contributed 3.6 points to volume/mix. Source
  • Q4 adjusted EPS up 1.7%: Adjusted diluted EPS rose 1.7% to $0.60. Adjusted operating income growth was partly offset by a slightly higher tax rate and higher interest expense. Source
  • Q4 adjusted operating income up 4.8%: Adjusted operating income rose 4.8% to $1,190 million, or 26.5% of net sales. GAAP operating income was $881 million, against $63 million a year earlier. Source
  • Q4 GAAP net income turned from loss: GAAP net income was $353 million, or $0.26 per diluted share, compared with a loss of $144 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. Source

“The strategic vision for KDP’s future is clear, and planning for the integration of JDE Peet’s and subsequent separation into two new companies is well underway under the leadership of Tim and our capable team.”

Bob Gamgort, Chairman of the Board

Full-year segments and regions

  • U.S. Refreshment Beverages sales up 11.9%: Segment sales were $10.4 billion, up 11.9%, on volume/mix growth of 9.0% and net price realization of 2.9%. GHOST contributed 6.2 points to volume/mix. Source
  • Share gains in soft drinks, energy, hydration: Management attributed segment growth to market share gains in carbonated soft drinks, energy, and sports hydration. Source
  • U.S. Coffee sales flat on price, volume down: Segment sales were $4.0 billion, up 0.6%. Net price realization of 4.8% was partly offset by a volume/mix decline of 4.2%, with K-Cup pod sales up and brewer sales down. Source
  • International sales up 9.3% constant currency: Segment sales were $2.2 billion, up 5.9% reported and 9.3% constant currency, on net price realization of 6.2% and volume/mix growth of 3.1%. Mineral water in Mexico and single serve coffee in Canada led growth. Source

Fourth-quarter segment results

  • Q4 U.S. Refreshment sales up 11.5%: U.S. Refreshment Beverages sales rose 11.5% to $2.7 billion on volume/mix growth of 7.0% and net price realization of 4.5%. GHOST contributed 6.1 points to volume/mix. Source
  • Q4 U.S. Coffee price up, volume down: U.S. Coffee sales rose 3.9% to $1.2 billion. Net price realization of 8.0% was partly offset by a volume/mix decline of 4.1%. Source
  • Q4 International sales up 16.0% constant currency: International sales rose 21.0% to $604 million, or 16.0% constant currency, on net price realization of 9.2% and volume/mix growth of 6.8%. Source

“Pam is uniquely suited to serve as Board Chair during this key period of transformation.”

CEO Tim Cofer

Costs, margins and productivity

  • Productivity offset inflation and SG&A: Consolidated adjusted operating income growth came from net sales growth and productivity savings, partly offset by inflationary pressures and higher SG&A costs. Source
  • Coffee profit fell on inflation and volume: U.S. Coffee adjusted operating income fell 4.4% to $1,233 million, a 30.9% margin. Inflation and volume declines outweighed net price realization and cost efficiency measures. Source
  • International profit rose on productivity: International adjusted operating income rose 3.3% to $556 million, or 25.6% of net sales. Productivity savings were partly offset by inflationary pressures. Source
  • Adjusted gross margin was 54.8%: Full-year adjusted gross margin was 54.8%, compared with 56.2% in the prior year. Source

Cash flow and free cash flow

  • Operating cash flow was $1,991 million: Operating cash flow was $1,991 million for the year, against $2,219 million in 2024. Free cash flow was $1,519 million, against $1,660 million. Source
  • GHOST termination payments cut cash flow: Operating and free cash flow absorbed $225 million of one-time distribution termination payments tied to the GHOST acquisition. Source
  • Capital spending fell to $486 million: Purchases of property, plant, and equipment were $486 million for the year, against $563 million in 2024. Source
  • Fourth-quarter cash flow was $712 million: Fourth-quarter operating cash flow was $712 million and free cash flow was $564 million. Source

Debt, leverage and shareholder returns

  • Dividends rose; repurchases fell to $9 million: Dividends paid were $1,250 million, against $1,194 million. Share repurchases were $9 million, against $1,110 million in 2024. Source
  • Notes issued and repaid during the year: The company issued $2,000 million of notes and repaid $1,029 million. Net commercial paper issuance was $594 million. Source
  • Management leverage ratio was 3.1: Management leverage ratio was 3.1 at December 31, 2025, against 3.2 at September 30, 2025 in the prior release. Source

JDE Peet’s acquisition and separation

  • Financing arranged for JDE Peet's: The company entered financing arrangements and incurred deferred financing costs for the anticipated JDE Peet's acquisition. Source
  • Euro purchase price hedged with FX forwards: FX forward contracts were executed in 2025 to protect the Euro-denominated purchase price against negative exchange movement before closing. Source
  • Deal costs excluded from adjusted results: Acquisition, integration, and financing costs for JDE Peet's and the Global Coffee Co. spin were $97 million for the year and $84 million in the fourth quarter, excluded from adjusted results. Source

2026 guidance basis and assumptions

  • 2026 guidance presented on non-GAAP basis: The 2026 guidance is presented on a constant currency, non-GAAP basis, as the company's forward-looking figures are not reconciled to GAAP. Source
  • Standalone growth plus JDE Peet's contribution: Guidance rests on standalone growth assumptions, with an incremental contribution from JDE Peet's added on top. Source
  • No GAAP reconciliation for forward measures: Management did not provide reconciliations of forward non-GAAP measures to GAAP, citing the inability to predict certain items outside its control. Source

Board chair transition

  • Patsley to succeed Gamgort as Chair: Lead Independent Director Pamela Patsley is to become Board Chair at the end of the first quarter of 2026. She has served on the Board since 2018. Source
  • Gamgort stays invested after stepping back: Gamgort steps off the Board on the same date and says he will remain a long-term investor in KDP. Source
  • Gamgort's leadership credited by Cofer: Cofer credited Gamgort's vision and leadership, from CEO through Non-Executive Chair, with establishing KDP as a major challenger in beverages. Source

Coming up, as management said on 24 February 2026

  • Chair change at end of Q1 2026: Patsley takes the Board Chair role at the end of the first quarter of 2026, and Gamgort leaves the Board that day. Source
  • Board transition in coming weeks: Management expects a seamless Board transition over the coming weeks. Source
  • JDE Peet's integration, then separation: Management plans the JDE Peet's acquisition and integration in 2026, then progress toward separation into two pure play companies. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Volume/mix growth, U.S. Refreshment Beverages (full year) Source9.0%
Volume/mix decline, U.S. Coffee (full year) Source4.2%
Volume/mix growth, International (full year) Source3.1%

Risks management discussed

  • External: Inflationary pressures were cited as offsetting part of the growth in adjusted operating income, alongside higher SG&A costs. Source
  • Demand: U.S. Coffee brewer sales declined, offsetting part of the growth from K-Cup pod sales. Source
  • Financial: One-time GHOST distribution termination payments reduced operating and free cash flow by $225 million. Source
  • Regulatory: Costs of significant non-routine legal matters, including antitrust litigation, were excluded from adjusted results for the year. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management described full-year 2025 results as consistent with the guidance it had given. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.